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Movie Name : Cocktail 2
Release Date : June 19, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Rashmika Mandanna
Director : Homi Adajania
Producer : Dinesh Vijan, Luv Ranjan, Pramita R Vijan, Ankur Garg
Music Director : Pritam
Cinematographer : Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran
Editors : Akshara Prabhakar

Related Links : Trailer

The much-awaited sequel to the blockbuster youthful entertainer Cocktail, Cocktail 2 arrives in theatres amid considerable expectations. Marketed as a contemporary relationship drama, the film explores love, friendship, and emotional complexities through a modern lens. But does it manage to recreate the charm of its predecessor? Let’s find out.

Story:
Kunal (Shahid Kapoor) is in a live-in relationship with Diya (Rashmika Mandanna). However, their lives take an unexpected turn when Ally (Kriti Sanon) enters the picture. What begins as a close friendship gradually evolves into a complicated love triangle. Whom does Kunal eventually choose? How do the relationships between these three individuals unfold? The answers form the rest of the story.

Plus Points:
Kriti Sanon delivers a commendable performance and emerges as one of the film’s biggest strengths. While she brings plenty of energy and charm to her character in the first half, she is equally impressive during the emotional moments in the latter half, portraying them with conviction.

Shahid Kapoor carries the film with his effortless charm and stylish screen presence. He looks at ease in the role and fits perfectly into the film’s youthful setting.

One of the film’s biggest assets is its visual appeal. The picturesque Sicily backdrop adds richness to the narrative, while the lavish production values give the film a glossy and grand look. Pritam’s songs are pleasant, and his background score complements the mood effectively.

Minus Points:
Although the film revolves around modern relationships, it lacks a strong emotional conflict to keep the audience invested. A significant portion of the first half is dedicated to parties, pub sequences, and lifestyle montages, making the narrative feel stretched.

In a relationship drama, the emotional connection between the characters is crucial. Unfortunately, the emotional equations between the lead characters never become compelling enough. Their actions and decisions often feel inconsistent, making it difficult for the audience to fully connect with their journey.

Rashmika Mandanna delivers a decent performance, but her character suffers from weak writing. The role lacks a well-defined arc, preventing it from leaving a stronger impression. Additionally, some of her Hindi dialogues do little to enhance the character.

The second half relies too much on emotional drama and occasionally feels sluggish. The pacing slows down considerably, and the climax twist follows a familiar route, reducing its overall impact.

Technical Aspects:
Director Homi Adajania relies heavily on a stylish and contemporary presentation, but the storytelling lacks the emotional depth needed to make the narrative truly engaging. The cinematography is visually appealing, with the Sicily locations captured beautifully on screen.

The music department does a good job, with both the songs and background score working in the film’s favour. The editing could have been sharper, especially in the second half, where a few unnecessary scenes could have been trimmed. The production values are top-notch, with the makers ensuring a visually rich experience throughout.

Verdict:
On the whole, Cocktail 2 is a half-baked romantic drama that fails to capitalise on the goodwill of its predecessor. Despite its stylish visuals, picturesque locations, rich production values, and a handful of commendable performances, the film is let down by its lack of emotional depth and engaging storytelling. Fans expecting the magic of the original Cocktail are likely to be disappointed, as the weak conflict and inconsistent narrative prevent the audience from fully connecting with the characters and their relationships.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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Movie Name : Deewana
Release Date : June 20, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Harshith Reddy, Smeha Manimegalai and others
Director : Sreekanth Sangishetty
Producers : Arha Media, Vasudev Koppineni, Sridevi Karyampudi
Music Director : Eswar chand
Cinematographer : Vamsi Patchipulusu
Editor : Hrishikesh Pasapal

Related Links : Trailer

Deewana starring Harshith Reddy is now out in theatres. The film is backed by Geetha Arts. Let’s see how this small film is.

Story:
Munna (Harshith Reddy), a good-for-nothing youngster from a middle-class family, spends most of his time roaming around with friends, and getting into fights. One day, he comes across Amulya (Smeha), who works in a government office, and instantly falls for her. He begins pursuing her, but Amulya doesn’t reciprocate his feelings. What happened next needs to be watched on the big screen.

Plus Points:
Deewana is one of the most meaningful films to have come out of Tollywood in recent times. When almost every character carries significance and serves a purpose in the narrative, a film feels truly complete and leaves a satisfactory feeling. This doesn’t happen very often, and the writing team of Deewana deserves a huge round of applause for the way they crafted each and every character.

Young actor Harshith Reddy’s portrayal of a crazy (Deewana) lover tugs at the heartstrings. The actor did good in his previous projects as well, but oh boy, he is simply extraordinary here. It’s a performance that will stay in hearts long after the end credits roll.

The film strikes a neat balance between realistic and commercial cinema, and that’s what makes Deewana even more lovable. The grounded approach in portraying the hero’s world through real locations works to the film’s advantage.

The second half is superbly written and presented. There are several payoffs that bring proper closure to many characters. More importantly, the emotional depth, coupled with entertaining moments, adds a sense of wholesomeness to the proceedings. While certain portions turn disturbing, the drama and dialogues justify them. The father-son bonding and the friendship angle are lovely.

Leading lady Smeha performs to the tee. The way her character and inner turmoil are written makes it easy to connect with and root for her. The rap songs further enhance the entertainment quotient. Naresh, Jhansi, and the entire supporting cast did a phenomenal job. Every one of them infused life into this heartwarming film.

Minus Points:
The first half is basically the set-up for the payoffs in the latter half, and the pacing here is a bit slow. The hero’s attempts to woo the leading lady turn somewhat monotonous after a point, and some fine-tuning would have been good. Some tropes could have been avoided for better impact.

Deewana is a film made with pure heart, and there are some disturbing moments/episodes that may make some people uncomfortable. That is one of the reasons the film was awarded an A certificate, and it’s important to set the right expectations in that regard.

Technical Aspects:
Eshwar Chand’s music is the second hero for Deewana. The love tracks, the crazy rap songs during key moments elevate the experience to another level.

The production values and the cinematography by Vamsi Patchipulusu are on point. Editing is satisfactory overall.

Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about how heroines are portrayed in films and how harassment is often mistaken for romance. Deewana stands out by clearly addressing this, with the leading lady calling out the protagonist and pointing out that his behaviour is no different from those who harass her. The film also tracks the protagonist’s transformation into a more responsible person. Director and writer Sreekanth Sanghishetty deserves every bit of appreciation for handling these aspects in a sensible manner. He is a talent to watch out for. The first half is slow, but the second half is highly rewarding.

Verdict :
On the whole, Deewana is a sincere romantic drama with its heart in the right place. The film excels in writing and performances. Harshith Reddy, Smeha Manimeghalai, and the entire supporting cast deliver solid performances. The first half is slow and has some monotony. The film might feel disturbing for a few viewers. The second half is where the film finds its strength, delivering proper payoffs, emotional depth, fun moments, and a satisfying climax.

123telugu.com Rating: 3/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team